MegaChurch or Catholic Church?

taylormarshall.com ^ | August 26, 2013 | Dr. Taylor Marshall

[NYer]

Megachurch. Two young ladies. Both had left the Catholic Church. Both were now attending “megachurches.” We had a good chat together. I wanted to understand their reasons for why they left the Catholic Church for a megachurch.

Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Megachurch
43,500 weekly attendance

I was at the bank and somehow I got into a spiritual conversation with two Hispanic executives that worked there.

Why the Megachurch?

When I asked why they exchanged the Catholic Church for the megachurch, they gave me a number of reasons:

1. “My new church has an iPhone app. I can go on my iPhone and get Bible studies, sermons (video and audio). When I travel I can still watch the sermon, either live or later. I feel apart of the community.”
2. “The preaching is dynamic and speaks to my life. I find practical encouragement.”
3. “I felt judged at the Catholic Church.”
4. “People were not friendly or welcoming at the Catholic Church. The first time I went to my new church, I was welcomed by so many people.”
5. “My new church has classes and courses that are interesting and helpful.”
6. “The music is better.”
7. “In the Catholic Church, they use a lot of words that I did not understand.”
8. “People pray for each other and know each other (in the megachurch).”

Although these two ladies didn’t articulate it explicitly to me, I could tell that they were very proud of their new churches. I could also discern in them a surprise that I am so “spiritual” and yet I am very excited about being Catholic. They assumed the “with it” people were leaving Catholicism for the bigger and better and deal.

I asked them what they miss about being Catholic. They replied with two answers:

1. “There are not any crosses in my new church. I know it makes some people feel uncomfortable, but I wish we had crosses.”
2. “What will I do when I die?” They were both unclear about whether they could get anything like Last Rites at the megachurch.

What About the Eucharist?

I asked both about the Eucharist: “Don’t you miss the Eucharist?”

This question didn’t phase them one bit. “Oh we still have communion. They pass out little crackers and cups of juice. I like this better because I thought drinking from one big cup is icky. Spreads germs.”

“But in the Catholic Church,” I replied, “we believe that the Eucharist is the real Body and Blood of Jesus?”

I may as well have said, “Don’t you know that there are Martians in my back pocket.” She was unaware that the Catholic Church taught this. No idea.

The Problem

This, my brothers and sisters, is the crux of the problem. These girls were raised as Catholics, but did not know about the Eucharist. They did not know that the Eucharist is God. They did not understand the Holy Eucharist is the center of the Catholic tradition.

So when they compare our ho-hum Catholic music and pedestrian sermons to snazzy well produced musical productions and highly polished bulleted sermons from handsome professional speakers…where are they going to go?

If they had believed that the Holy Eucharist is truly the Lord Jesus Christ, then they would have stayed. This is the task of the New Evangelization if there is going to be one. Can we communicate the mystery of Eucharist. If we fail in that, everyone is leaving the building.

Godspeed,
Taylor

PS: I don’t mean to suggest that having the Holy Eucharist is an excuse for bad music, bad vestments, bad architecture, and bad sermons. The Eucharist is like a precious diamond. It deserves a platinum setting…not a plastic setting. We can’t say, “Well, we have the Eucharist – so you’re forced to stay and have a miserable experience every Sunday.” We can’t keep the sacraments hostage to mediocracy.

PPS: With 1 billion strong, the Catholic Church is the real megachurch!

Pope Francis at Rio de Janeiro
3 million people

[CynicalBear]

>>Jesus actually demonstrated this for us on Mt. Tabor when He communicated with Moses and Elijah. What do you think they were, dead?<<

But He didn’t allow the apostles to did He. In fact it was the voice of the father that said specifically to address Jesus not Moses and Elijah. That should be a hint to Catholics.

[metmom]

We don’t vote, so the question of unanimity is irrelevant. There is a teaching. It is defined. It is in a book called the Catechism.

Unanimity is not required.

Romans 14:1-12 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

[CynicalBear]

>>So dead faith is OK with Jesus?<<

Wow! Do you just simply refuse to believe what the Holy Spirit says or what?

Do you not read what happens when one is filled with the Holy Spirit? No dead faith there.

[CynicalBear]

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

[CynicalBear]

>>It’s all about the Body of Christ :o)<<

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Are you sure you are eating what they say you are eating?

[Mrs. Don-o]

YES!!

[CynicalBear]

Wow! I thought we were supporting our positions from scripture? You need to stay with our original deal.

[CynicalBear]

>> I would never claim that my sanctification was done.<<

So you deny what the Holy Spirit clearly said. You may want to think about that.

[bkaycee]

There is a teaching. It is defined. It is in a book called the Catechism.

There is a teaching. It is the God Breathed Word. It is in a book called the Holy Bible and we can understand the Word because He has adopted us and given us the Spirit of Truth.

[CynicalBear]

So they pray to have it turn into the body of Christ. You could be eating other church members for crying out loud. One slip up and ya know?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Oh, you don't know the half of it. This "Communion" of ours is Communion with the whole Church --- even you, y'old Bear, if you are in Christ ---

Don't you believe in the Communion of Saints?

Yes, it's big, big...

Tagline for you.

[CynicalBear]

LOL somehow I knew you would take that the right way. You’re ok Mrs. Don-o.  A little deceived by that RCC cult thing but ok!

[Iscool]

If Catholics don't believe that anyone but certain representatives have the Spirit, then precious few of them are saved.

Those who do not have the Spirit of the Lord living within them are not saved and will not be saved until they receive the Spirit...

Joh_7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

NOT just the clergy or representatives...

Joh_14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Probably most Catholics have never even heard this let alone read it in the scriptures...

Rom_8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Catholics all have live bodies...They put much confidence in their flesh...

1Jn_3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

They never believe us when we tell them this...They still won't believe it even after they read it as scripture...

1Jn_4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

They can eat Jesus an arm at a time but unless they are indwelt with the Spirit of God, well::::

Rom_8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

[Iscool]

But I don't know what Iscool believes. Maybe the Holy Spirit has convinced him of some other truth.

I'm not the one you need to worry about...

[metmom]

There's nothing mysterious about what faith is.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Do you not read what happens when one is filled with the Holy Spirit? No dead faith there.

Romans 8:9-17 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Ephesians 1:13-14 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

[mitch5501]

Thankyou for that candid post BD! God sometimes just plain freaks us out!

[metmom]

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

We are saved, washed, sanctified, and justified.

[Iscool]

>> What is the Scripture in Galatians 3:8<<

Are you trying to lead down a rabbit trail here or something? The Greek word there that is translated Scripture is used 24 times in the New Testament. Perhaps just a little study on your part would help?

HaHa...I avoided that because I wasn't sure if he didn't know what scripture is or like you say, a rabbit hole...

Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Instead of trying to set a trap, Seven_0 maybe should pay attention to the part of the verse where it says the 'scripture' can see things...

There's something unusually unique about that book...

[Iscool]

OK. So I might believe myself to have faith and show it by good works, but am completely deceived anyway.

That would be accurate...And condemned as well...

[terycarl]

HE had no use for it and it was nearly 30 years ago, not really all that long. I have no noticed an improvement in attitude amongst Catholics in that time

I personally apologize for the KofC member who was so misinformed....VERY sad...however, he was an individual....a member of a 2,013 year old religious organization that God Himself promised would exist until the end of time WITHOUT ERROR..the attitudes of individual Catholic, Protestant, Mormon, jew, whatever is basically meaningless....some are educated in their religion, some follow mommy and daddy and have no idea of what their religion teaqches, and others just think that they can do whatever they feel like and God will approve.....After all, if Christ died to redeem all mankind for all their sins...I can do whatever I like and Christ will have taken care of my responsibility....I'm home free....I believe so I'm saved!!!!!!!!!!!!!